Last year at this time, I didn’t really believe that winters in Ukraine would be that much worse than what I faced in Syracuse. I was used to walking to school in freezing temperatures with wind blowing snow into my face. I figured it couldn’t be much worse.
Then the end of January came and the temperatures dropped to 30 below zero (Celsius). It was cold. It was so cold that I wore jeans under my dress pants and I was still freezing. I considered hibernating.
So, when volunteers inevitably asked the most common question, “Are winters here really that bad?” I answered that they were. I tried to prepare them for the harsh coming winter.
Today I checked the weather. For the next ten days, it’s not even supposed to drop below zero. I think Ukraine is trying to make me look like a fool. Either that or she’s lulling me into a false sense of security. Either way, I’m enjoying being able to wear skirts to school.
Kate
January 11, 2011
Oh man, it’s really helpful (and kind of terrifying) to read this! I got a heavy, heavy coat for Christmas and was looking at the typical weather for Ukraine after I got it (I just got one that’s rated as cold as possible) – and I was like “well hell, that’s not THAT cold”. Apparently it is and I’ll be really happy I got long underwear and a down coat